From gym classes to marathon training, boosting our physical fitness is often at the top of the agenda these days - but are you keeping your mind in shape too? Steve Braithwaite tells Abi Jackson how his 'Mind Fitness' philosophies can boost fulfilment and happiness.

It's always intriguing to ask wellbeing experts about the best advice they've ever been given.

"Well, be happy is always a good one!" comes Steve Braithwaite's reply when the question is posed to him. He immediately starts laughing, well aware of the ironic complex-simplicity of his statement.

"Be happy - but what is that? That alone opens up a huge journey in itself," he goes on.

"Another important one for me is 'Be your own master'. That's all about feeling in control of what you want from life and what you do in life."

These two things are part of what Steve calls 'Mind Fitness'. And just as physical fitness requires a certain amount of practice and training, so too does Mind Fitness, and that's why Steve is on a mission help others flex and hone their minds with a series of seminars and retreats, and with his blog (www.steverichardbraithwaite.com).

Quite simply, Mind Fitness is about being your best self. But that's doesn't mean being the best in the world - the richest/brightest/fastest. It's about having peace, control and fulfilment within yourself and, ultimately, less stress and more happiness.

Comparing your own successes and achievements to others' defeats the purpose. Being burdened by how we 'measure up' is a tricky trap to avoid, but Steve insists that we've "got to try".

"There's no need to compete and compare with Mind Fitness, it's a personal journey," he explains. "If we're constantly driven by somebody else telling us what we're meant to do and how much we're meant to do, people can get injured that way because they're ignoring themselves or what they're feeling inside. Everything has to come back to ourselves.

"If I go for a run today and feel I could do a bit better, I should give a bit more," he adds. "If I don't feel so good, I should pull back a bit."

This metaphor is one Steve lives by, and it means that he's able to make decisions that are right for him, and enjoy his achievements and blessings, big and small - it's all part of that 'being your own master'.

Steve's interest in the 'mind' is rooted in his childhood. His grandparents were fans of Eastern philosophies and often imparted snippets of knowledge and wisdom onto young Steve, who was fascinated with self-improvement.

"I grew up in Canada and played a lot of sports," he recalls. "From a young age I realised that, often, to excel in sports without great physical capability was very difficult, but even for all those people that did have great physical capability, they didn't necessarily excel."

The crucial link, he surmised, were the mental aspects.

"Until you address your mind, it's very difficult to sustain anything. The mind's supporting everything else; the mind is very powerful."

Steve moved to the UK during his twenties, pursuing a career as a singer-songwriter. He also worked quite extensively as a hairstylist, and his interest in self-development and improvement often crossed over into whatever field he was involved in. He's been leading stress management and mindfulness courses for big corporations for over a decade, and more recently has been working with NHS breast cancer patients.

But it's right now, at the age of 53, that he feels the time is right to really push Mind Fitness into the spotlight, and he hopes a book he's working on will be finished later this year.

"I'm really excited to be doing this at 53," he says. "I've had 30 years of delving into this area and I think it's really relevant for all of us, especially now.

"We all deserve to feel great; it's our life and life is there to enjoy, but we've kind of lost that a little, you know?"

So, how does one join this Mind Fitness regime?

Key to Steve's philosophy are the 'Four Minds of Development'. The Fundamental Mind, which is all about the skills and knowledge that form the foundations of how we cope with day to day life; the Reasoning Mind, about perception and how our own intellect and emotions interpret what we encounter; the Creative Mind which is constantly skimming between the past, present and future and hatching plans and dreams, and finally the Observing Mind, the one that's focused on what's happening right now.

"The Observing Mind is about the here and now, being in the moment; that's the place where I try to remain most of the time."

It's about stopping and smelling the roses, being present and engaged - not so easy when we're permanently plugged into smartphones, or distracted by deep-seeded dissatisfaction or anxiety.

The Mind Fitness retreats help you to move away from this, and centre on the Four Minds, unravelling the pros and pitfalls of each and developing techniques for adapting your attitude and thought processes. It aims to get the most out of your mind, and get it working with you, rather than against you.

If it sounds a bit complicated; it's not.

"Mind Fitness is for everybody," says Steve. "Even children and people of all ages, it's never too late to better ourselves!"

Endless mediation or scary chanting isn't mandatory, either. While Steve's spent a lot of time studying Eastern philosophies and wisdoms he realises that, for a lot of people, these practices may not be accessible: "I'm trying to stretch the boundaries and make the connection between the Eastern philosophy and way of life and the Western philosophy."

Four Minds aside, Steve also focuses on purpose, acceptance and expectation.

"Do we really believe that no one's perfect? Because if no one's perfect, why do I get so upset or angry when they let me down, or don't get things completely right?" he observes.

"Once you truly hold that belief, it makes a huge difference because we're not getting so angry all the time. Sometimes our expectations are too high. And you can learn to put less pressure on yourself, too. Go easy on yourself."

:: Steve is running 'Mastering the Mind' retreats at Champneys Spa Resorts. For dates, locations and prices and to book, visit www.champneys.com

:: Read Steve's blog at www.steverichardbraithwaite.com

Tried and tested

Danny Williams pops some plant extract to stifle sniffles

What it is?

Containing extracts of Pelargonium sidoides, a medicinal plant native to South Africa which has long been hailed for its anti-vial, anti-bacterial and mucus-relieving qualities, Kaloba promises to soothe symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, like a runny or blocked nose, sore throat or cough. Suitable for adults and children over 12, you take one tablet with water, three times a day until your cold passes, then another couple of days to prevent it coming back. (Maximum usage is two weeks and not suitable for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Always read the label).

What's it like?

I've used this a few times now this winter and, unless it's a complete coincidence, I've certainly noticed benefits. Starting the treatment at the first hint of a sniffle seemed to stop symptoms developing into a full-blown cold and made them a lot easier to bear.

Information

:: Kaloba Pelargonium Cough & Cold Relief Tablets, available in packs of 16 (£5.99) or 21 (£9.99) from Boots and other leading pharmacies and health stores nationwide.